Karunanidhi opposes Andhra CM's remarks on check dams across Palar

Chennai: DMK president M Karunanidhi on Saturday opposed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's remarks on constructing check dams across Palar, saying it would affect three districts in Tamil Nadu dependent on the river for its drinking water needs.

Karunanidhi said Naidu had made the remarks at a thanksgiving meeting in Kuppam, where he had promised all efforts to develop the area, including constructing a dam across the river Palar.

The DMK chief recalled that a similar proposal was dropped by the Late Rajasekara Reddy when he was Chief Minister after DMK and PMK, then UPA partners, had raised strong objections.

He recalled that in 2008, the Supreme Court hearing a case in this regard had asked the Centre to resolve the issue following which it was decided that Andhra will not go ahead with construction of dam till Central Water Commission found out a solution.

"Palar is a major source of drinking water needs for three districts--Vellore, Tiruvallore and Kancheepuram, bordering Andhra Pradesh. If a dam is constructed across Palar, Tamil Nadu people (in these districts) will suffer," he said in a statement.

Karunanidhi said he and Naidu as CM's had successfully implemented 'Telugu-Ganga' project by which Krishna water wassupplied to Chennai and recalled "the care and concern shown by Naidu" to address water needs of the Tamil people.

"I cannot believe that Naidu, who has love for the people of the neighbouring state, can say that he will construct check dam across Palar," Karunanidhi said.

Expressing joy over Naidu's promises of making a "world class" city out of the proposed capital of residual Andhra Pradesh on Vijayawada-Guntur highway and others like taking steps for a Chennai-Hyderabad bullet train service, he said the Chief Minister should focus his resources on such matters rather than taking steps that would affect the drinking water prospects of a particular section of people.